Good morning from The National on December 25, 2025.
Here is your digest of what is making the headlines in the Emirates.
The UAE has treated tens of thousands of Palestinian patients at its field and floating hospitals in Gaza and Egypt as part of a continued humanitarian aid drive.
The steadfast support of Palestine – as it struggles with a humanitarian crisis fuelled by the two-year conflict with Israel – has contributed to the UAE being ranked the world's third largest aid donor this year.
The Emirates provided $1.46 billion of financial assistance to alleviate wars, disasters and other crises across the globe this year, according to latest figures from the UN's Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (Unocha) Financial Tracking Service.
The UAE had gave Dh9.4 billion in aid to Gaza since the start of the war in October, 2023 up to this month, including more than 100,000 tonnes of supplies and two million gallons of water.
Read more on the UAE's global aid efforts here
Dubai hospital plans to be 'global hub' for spinal muscular atrophy
A leading Dubai hospital has revealed it will offer a pioneering gene-therapy treatment for spinal muscular atrophy approved by the UAE this month.
Medcare Royal Specialty Hospital in Al Qusais will provide the newly licensed treatment, called Itvisma, to patients with the debilitating condition who are aged above two years old or weigh more than 21kg.
SMA can cause severe disability and, in some cases, proves fatal in young children.
Dr Vivek Mundada, a consultant paediatric neurologist at Medcare Royal Specialty Hospital, said that the new drug offered “a paradigm shift” by allowing older and heavier children, and adults, to be treated.
Read more from Daniel Bardsley here
Sharjah Ruler opens dairy factory and farm in food security boost
Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah, has hailed the launch of a vast dairy farm and factory as a dream 65 years in the making.
On Wednesday he commenced operations at the Mleiha Dairy Factory and Farm, a 20,000 square metre centre which will be crucial to the emirate's food security efforts.
The Sharjah Ruler said the dairy centre, along with other key agriculture initiatives in the emirate, had been established to serve the needs of the community.
“We do not seek profit; rather, we seek health for the people. If we achieve self-sufficiency and produce healthy food, we will have accomplished a great deal for our country,” he said, in comments shared by state news agency Wam.
Read the full report here
Fact of the day
The UAE is to contribute $2 million to support the provision of healthcare services in Sudan. Read more on the essential aid plan here
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